Chronological Resumes

In this format, your information will be listed in reverse chronological order. This type of resume format presents the reader with a clear, linear picture of where you've been and what you've done at each place of employment.

This type of format is generally used to show longevity of employment within a particular industry.

The focus is on your continued employment and accumulation of skills within one particular field.

The chronological style used to be the most popular resume format, due primarily to the way business was done in the 19th century. Workers were hired by a company and could generally expect to remain with the company until retirement. In the event the job went away, or the person relocated, the primary qualification for a similar position was length of experience in the industry.

However, the way business is done began to change near the end of the century. Today's 21st century work practices are more mobile. The conversion to a more global economy and increased technology called for hiring workers with specific areas of expertise. In most cases, the expertise was best gained through a variety of interrelated careers and experiences, rather than through one single career.

The result of new work practices resulting in the emergence of the functional resume format, which emphasizes skills and areas of expertise rather than steady employment history.

This style of resume remains useful for those who want to illustrate accumulative advancement within the same industry. However, the way in which it is constructed has been given a new spin.

If you plan to use this type of format, the best approach is to list your position titles first, followed by company name, and dates. Remember - even though this format is still a good style, the way in you construct it does matter! A hiring manager will almost always be more interested in the type of position you held, rather than the company you worked for. There are exceptions, however, particularly in highly competitive industries such as computer science and technology.

List your dates last, and place them on the right hand side of your document rather than on the left hand side. They are simply not as important as your position and the name of the company you worked for, even on a chronological resume.